Rugby: McCartney props up Blues for Stormers

Tom McCartney faces a real test of his propping ability against the Stormers tomorrow night at Eden Park. Photo / Dean Purcell.

Tom McCartney is a fitness junkie who plays prop for his club but those talents will get a serious inspection when he turns out at loosehead for the Blues tomorrow.

Normally, McCartney is the backup for hooker and skipper Keven Mealamu but tomorrow at Eden Park he will make his first start for the Blues at prop.

"He started as a prop and when he came through the Pakuranga club we converted him at Auckland to a hooker but he still maintained playing prop at club rugby," coach Pat Lam explained.

"With our injury crisis in the front row he has been playing there as well and he has aspirations to go further, and it is not easy sitting behind Kevvie."

McCartney's introduction is one of four changes coach Pat Lam has made with Jerome Kaino back after a week's rest at blindside flanker, Sherwin Stowers promoted to left wing and Lachie Munro to fullback.

The backline has undergone further juggling with Benson Stanley out with concussion so Jared Payne reverts to his regular role at centre after a couple of weeks at fullback.

Tevita Mailau and Chris Lowrey have been shifted to the bench and are joined by the most prominent casualty Rene Ranger, who was a mixed contributor in last week's loss to the Reds.

"He would be the first to admit that he has not played as well as he has, to the high standards that he sets and we just feel for this week it is best to give Sherwin an opportunity and allow Rene to come off the bench and make some impact, which he has done well for us in the past," Lam said.

"We had a talk through things and it is a self-awareness thing. He knows he hasn't played that well and it gives him a bit of a breather to prepare to come off the bench and I am expecting big things from him."

The Blues have been emphasising their tackling and defensive strategies after the sloppy start to their last match with the Reds. The hosts will also have to staunch the rolling mauls they will encounter from the Stormers, who bring a physical approach at the breakdown like the Highlanders.

The key thing about stemming the rolling mauls was to have a system and work as a group, rather than individuals.

That strategy was the same every time sides played South African teams.

Munro and Stowers had been trusted to defuse any aerial assaults from the Stormers but that was only part of the onslaught they would face from the visitors.

Stephen Brett would run the backs once more. He had areas to work on but he was a strong general and was working hard to bring his error rate down.